Domusursorum

In our lives we inevitably become used to what we have, the old desk in my study that I restored myself was something I had always wanted, however, I walk into the room sometimes, walk out again and I wouldn’t be able to say for sure if it was in the room. The same is also true for non material things.

In 1827 my great great great grandfather was a witness at his sisters wedding and is recorded in the parish record as ‘X the mark of Henry Lucas’. He was thirteen at the time and unable to sign his own name. By the time he was sixteen, he was indentured as an apprentice papermaker and at a wedding in the same year it would appear he did sign his name, so some vigorous learning had been going on over the previous three years. It would seem his father was also unable to sign his name and it is reasonable to assume that if unable to write they were probably unable to read.

Just imagine reader, if you will, what it would be like to live with no radio, no television, no telephone, no internet and being unable to read or write. All that you knew would be dependant upon the accuracy and truthfulness of those around you. If one adds to this the life of an agricultural labourer and almost certainly not owning ones own home, then I see an image of a life most hard and vulnerable.

The power of the written word gives the brain wings, we can share the thoughts of the great and good in our own time and at our own speed. This power and a great love of the English language has been a kingpin of my for my family over the past hundred years or so. I am not an academic person, more a product of our Great British comprehensive school system (from which I learned next to nothing) but my families love of literature lives on in me and without this I would be a lesser person. Thank God that despite Nanny States’ (and our once fine British Broadcasting Corporations’) best efforts to bring the masses down to one universally low standard, we all have the freedom to self educate, free of any disipline but our own!

It is my sincerest wish that my own son be able to understand and enjoy our language at least as well as do I and I shall put considerable effort into ensuring that, despite being condemed to raising my child in Chavhampmouth (the south coast of England conurbation, housing some of the lovliest people in our once great nation.)

So dear reader, should you be a victim of the unmitigated bigotry, jealosy and zenophobia that is the ‘big bruvver house’ of England today, do not dumb down, do not adjust your sense of reality and above all do not forget the simple gifts that you take for granted.

Welcome to Domus Ursorum, my own little piece of cyberspace, or as the phase that has just popped into my head goes, ‘The Magazine Of My Life’.

As you have found yourself here, may I give you the briefest ’story so far’ that I can. My name is Simon Lucas, I am 44 years old, married with one son and we live in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. I can trace my fathers family back to 1750 in the Meon Valley (where I spent most of my childhood) and my mothers to 1760 in the New Forest, both in Hampshire, the county of my birth. So I am a real ‘ampshire ‘ogg.

At the time of writing I’m not sure where this site is going, I just fancied having one. The name Domus Ursorum is Latin for Home of the Bears and was spun off from an earlier shared site of the same name, However, only one item (Windfarms), which I wrote years ago remains from that. Home of the Bears is rather apt as I am something of a grumpy old bear, I wish I could hibernate for most of the winter and I am rather partial to honey and salmon.

The passions of my life are my family, my friends, good food, music, real ale, Malt Whiskey, red wine, classic cars, fountain pens, wristwatches, art, antiques (especially English pewter and oak country furniture), cravats (why is there such a stigma about this most elegant way of finishing the neck of a shirt? - I shall wear and defend the cravat robustly!). I love to read but seem to get precious little time to so do and I have a slowly growing interest in well, growing things.

I am also interested in genealogy and I am currently seeking to trace any decendants of Charles, William or Henry Lucas all of the Meon Valley in Hampshire, England.

Despite its problems, I see the internet as one of mankinds greatest acheivements and to not be part of it is to turn ones back on something that offers almost limitless possibilities. Something I would like to achieve with all this is learning. Should you the reader find anything here offensive or untrue, then please let me know, although as editor and autonomous dictator my decision is final.

This site still is very much ‘under construction’ and I am not very good with computers but if anything is of interest to you or you’re just another drifing soul lost on the ‘net’ why not leave a comment.

Best Wishes

Simon

January 2007

What does a Wind Farm do?

It generates wind. An increased amount of wind is usually noticeable within sight of the farm, this is due to currently inefficient storage of generated wind.

Who runs the Wind Farms?

Wind Farms are run by the regional Wind Company; for instance in Cornwall they are owned and run by Cornish Wind.

What happened before there were Wind Farms?

There has always been a small amount of naturally occurring wind. Historically sailors would attempt to generate wind by ‘whistling for a wind’. However using this method only a small amount of wind could be generated and it was both inefficient and unreliable. In more recent times each community would have a windmill to provide local wind. These could produce only a limited quantity of wind and had no storage facilities.

What percentage of wind occurs naturally?

There is some controversy over the amount of naturally occurring wind. A figure of between 20 and 40 percent has been suggested; however in Cornwall for instance Trade Winds International claim that the wind that Cornish Wind regards as natural is actually run off wind from wind they have sold to other regions and thus Cornish Wind should pay an overrider for it. This area is still in dispute.

Should I buy my own wind?

In England and Wales your local council (weather department) buys wind on your behalf. This is paid for out of the Council Tax. If you need extra wind for a specific purpose it can be bought direct from a wind company.

Who can I buy my wind from?

It depends on the area you live in. In Cornwall wind can be bought from Cornish Wind or Gwynt Cymru (Welsh Wind) - or from a global company such as Trade Winds International. You receive the same air only the name on the top of the bill is different.

And if you think the above is a lot of (hot) air then consider what’s happened to our utilities since privatisation!

• For some REAL windmills check out the Centre for Alternative Technology, Wales. http://www.foe.co.uk/CAT